June 29: 1 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 18

June 29, 1 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 18

1 Kings 22 Syria & Israel continued without war for 3 years. There was a city named Ramoth-gilead that Syria had hung on to. Ahab, Israel’s King, wanted to get back Ramoth-gilead and enticed Jehoshaphat to go with him to get it. Now Israel & Judah were going to work together. However, being a godly man, Jehoshaphat King of Judah wanted to seek God’s will first. So Ahab gathered most of the prophets together and all of them unanimously agreed that they should go to battle and they would conquer. There was another prophet who was not there, that being Micaiah. There was only one problem, Ahab hated him because every prophecy he gives is against Ahab! One of the prophets made for himself horns of iron and said that with these horns they shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed, and all the other prophets agreed with him - triumph was guaranteed!

Still, they called for Micaiah anyway. He was warned to give a favorable prophecy to Ahab, just like all the other prophets. However, Micaiah said that whatever God tells him to say he will say. I am pasting some of the text here, because it is so powerful! “And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, “Go up and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” But the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”  And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’” And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another. Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’ Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you.” Wow! Look at the dialogue that we get to be privy to? There are no limits as to what God can and will do to accomplish His will.

Then one of them came up to Micaiah and punched him in the face, furious about what he just heard - they are all liars and only you hear from God? Micaiah was arrested and Ahab said to keep him until he returns. Micaiah said that if Ahab returns from war, Micaiah is a liar and God has not spoken through him. 

Well, you can guess how this one turns out! Ahab, being sneaky, decides to disguise himself in battle, while leaving Jehoshaphat in the royal robes. In battle, they spotted that Ahab was disguised and an archer shot an arrow between the scale armor and breastplate of Ahab. He died that night, like was prophesied. 

The Prophet was right. God had His way.

Jehoshaphat was a good King, like Asa his Dad. He died. 

2 Chronicles 18 is not much different than that of 1 Kings 22, except for the Chronicler points out how devious Ahab was and how much (vs 31) God was for Jehoshaphat, making it all work out for him.

To sum it all up:

• Remember, God is Sovereign and will have His way, even if it seems ludicrous to us
• Crazy story isn't it? Do you believe that God’s Word is truth, especially here? I do. I will live and die by God’s Words.